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Pitch Perfect with Chris Mandeville!
What’s a Pitch?
A description of your project in broad, enticing strokes.!!A pitch is NOT a summary of your story or project.! !
Typically“pitching” refers to “selling” your idea to an editor, agent, producer—!someone who can help you get it out into the world.! !A pitch can be in person or in writing. !If in writing, it’s a query letter.!This workshop will focus on in-person pitching!
Writers talking about their books:
What is a Pitch?!What’s it going to be like?!What to say!Dos & Don’ts!Reducing Anxiety!
Outline
What’s a Pitch?
A description of your project in broad, enticing strokes.!!A pitch is NOT a summary of your story or project.! !
This is the definition, but understanding what a pitch is can be easier if we look at it in terms of its FUNCTION
What’s a Pitch Do?
Your pitch should:!q "hook" the listener!
q give the flavor of the book!
q be clear (not mysterious)!
q be positive (without overselling)!
q be memorable (in a good way)!
The goal of a pitch is to get a “SEND IT”!!
What a Pitch Looks Like
Focus: The Appointment!
What are the Dangers?
¤ Boring the listener!¤ Confusing the listener!¤ Overwhelming the listener!
USUALLY THESE HAPPEN WHEN YOU GIVE TOO MUCH INFORMATION!
What Do You Say?
¤ Your name!
¤ Book title!
¤ Genre!
¤ Logline!
¤ Other stuff about the book!
¤ Other stuff about you!
¤ Q&A!
Talking Points Worksheet
Talking Points worksheet available for download at www.ChrisMandeville.com
Why is Genre Important When Pitching?
¤ Industry standard!
¤ Place holder!
¤ Shortcut to a mental picture!
¤ Special requirements of the genre!
¤ Editors/agents need it to sell!
What Do You Say?
¤ Your name!
¤ Book title!
¤ Genre!
¤ Logline!
¤ Other stuff about the book!
¤ Other stuff about you!
¤ Q&A!
LOGLINE: “What is the story about?”
¤ in one sentence!
¤ that’s succinct and natural!
¤ that mentions the main character & conflict!
¤ and provides a “hook”!
A logline should be about 25-40 words and not “thesaurusized”
Why Start with a Logline?
¤ Avoids dangers!
¤ Muscle memory!
¤ Industry standard!
¤ Elevators!
Standard Logline Elements (Fiction)
¤ Character: Who is your story about?! ! ! Dominant impression = adjective plus noun !
! ! (timid writer, neurotic dog, murdering dentist)!
¤ Goal: ! What does your character want? !The character's overarching goal in the book.!
¤ Conflict: ! What's keeping them from getting it? !Can be internal and/or external.!
¤ Plus: ! Often your hook or what sets you apart; !It should make them want to know more!
Know Your Genre Expectations
¤ a memoir or creative nonfiction logline can be similar to the standard fiction logline!
¤ a romance logline should include both the hero and heroine!
¤ a speculative fiction (SF/F/H) logline should include something about the special world (often setting)!
LOGLINE EXAMPLE A girl on a reality TV show has to make difficult ethical choices in order to win.!
In the future, amidst the ruins of North America lies the nation of Panem where a 16-year-old girl who is a loner and sole-supporter of her family, Katniss Everdeen, takes her younger, weaker sister Prim’s place in the nationally televised Hunger Games where she’s a longshot to survive the fight to the death against other teenagers from every District—a fight to the death on live TV.!
A desperate 16-year-old girl fights to be the sole survivor of the Hunger Games, but at what cost to her humanity?!
A desperate 16-year-old girl (CHARACTER)!
!fights to be the sole survivor!
of The Hunger Games, !(EXTERNAL CONFLICT, GOAL)!
!but at what cost to her humanity? !
(INTERNAL CONFLICT)!
In what used to be North America, a desperate 16-year-old girl girl fights to be the sole survivor of the nationally televised "Hunger Games" where teens fight to the death, but at what cost to her humanity?!
In what used to be North America (PLUS)!a desperate 16-year-old girl (CHARACTER)!
fights to be the sole survivor (EXTERNAL CONFLICT, GOAL)!of the nationally televised “Hunger Games” !
where teens fight to the death, (PLUS)!but at what cost to her humanity? (INTERNAL CONFLICT)!
Logline worksheet available for download at www.ChrisMandeville.com
Tagline
¤ MOONRAKER: "Outerspace now belongs to 007”!
¤ THE SPY WHO SHAGGED ME: "Double-O Behave”!
¤ STAR WARS: "A ragtag band of rebels are the only hope of saving the universe.”!
¤ AGENT CODY BANKS: "Save the world, get the girl, pass math.”!
¤ THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY: "For three men the Civil War wasn't hell, it was practice.”!
¤ HOOK: "What if Peter Pan grew up?”!
A tagline is is a unique premise that can be conveyed in a sentence or phrase, Is sometimes ref’d to as The “Hollywood Pitch” or “High Concept” logline. It’s optional, and should not replace a standard logline. EXAMPLES:
Talking Points Worksheet
Having a list of KEY WORDS from your story available during your pitch can be great to help stimulate natural conversation about your book AND can help jumpstart your memory if you get stuck
Key Words
PLACEMENT!
¤ International intrigue!
¤ fast-paced!
¤ suspenseful!
¤ high-stakes action!
¤ powerful villains!
CONCEPT!
¤ British spy!
¤ suave ladies man!
¤ elite intelligence agent!
¤ cool cars!
¤ high-tech gadgets!
Note that it’s not necessary to divide your key words into “placement” and “concept” but doing so can help you to refine your ideas
This example is for a James Bond story
Talking Points Worksheet
Be sure you know all of the above information before your pitch
What ELSE Do You Say in a Pitch?
This is the back of the Talking Points worksheet
available for download at www.ChrisMandeville.com
A bio worksheet is also available for download at www.ChrisMandeville.com
Common Sense & Etiquette!
Dos & Don’ts
When & Where to Pitch
When & Where NOT to Pitch
Dos & Don’ts: During Your Appointment
Do shake hands !
Don’t offer a card unless asked!
Do ask questions!
Don’t lie!
!
!
! ! ! ! !Do take notes!
! ! ! ! !Do reference your notes!
Do’s and Don’ts
Don’t bring or read from your ms!
!
!
!
Don't say Mom loved it!
Don’t argue!
Do offer credentials if applicable/impressive!
Do leave when time is up!
Do’s and Don’ts
Anxious? Nervous? Terrified? Shaky?
Reducing Anxiety!
What are Your Symptoms of Anxiety?
Break down your anxiety into smaller problems you can solve – !treat, prevent, and mitigate your symptoms and you’ll feel less stressed!
Remedies:
Visualize
Positive images!Low-anxiety situations!You being calm, confident, and successful!
Familiarize
Practice
IN SUMMARY
BE CLEAR!BE ENTICING!BE PROFESSIONAL!BE CALM!BE BRIEF!!
YOUR GOAL: A SEND IT!
Thank You and
Good Luck!
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